School Board hears Deerfield Beach High complaints

Board also increases cafeteria meal prices 10 cents

The Broward County School Board on Tuesday postponed a decision on the demotion of a Deerfield Beach High School assistant principal for one week after hearing allegations about campus unrest.

Board members requested an investigation, while delaying a vote on Superintendent Robert Runcie's recommendation to move Racquel Lipscomb to a teaching position at another school.

Lipscomb, along with a half-dozen faculty members, told the board that they've been treated unfairly by Principal Jon Marlow.

"My boss has been bullying me and writing me up for things that did not happen," said Lipscomb, who has served as an assistant principal in the district for the past 12 years. Officials cited performance issues as the reasons for removing her from the position.

Marlow could not be reached for comment Tuesday despite a message left with his office.

Runcie told the board he has heard the complaints about 2,500-student Deerfield Beach High and his administration is taking a deeper look.

"It is something I am continuing to investigate," he said, adding the board faces a deadline on Lipscomb because her assistant principal contract expires June 30.

"We didn't want to sever her from the district," he said of the administration's decision to grant her a teaching assignment for the upcoming school year.

Runcie said Lipscomb could be moved back up to an assistant principal post later on, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Dawn Boothe, who said she was nominated by her colleagues at Deerfield Beach High for teacher of the year honors, said she was a victim of poor treatment just like Lipscomb.

"A stand needs to be made," said Booth, who is switching schools.

After listening to the testimony from Lipscomb and the others, board member Robin Bartleman said she is concerned about poor morale affecting Deerfield Beach High when students and teachers return in August.

"Something has to be done to create peace in the school," she said. "It can't be left like this."

In other business Tuesday, the School Board voted to raise the price of regular price school meals by 10 cents. It's only the second increase since 1988.

As a result, breakfast will cost $1.20 in elementary schools and $1.30 in middle and high schools. Lunch is now $2 in elementary schools, $2.35 in middle schools and $2.50 in high schools.

Prices will not increase for students who qualify for reduced priced-breakfasts (30 cents) and lunches (40 cents).

Food & Nutrition Services Director Mary Mulder said the price change is a result of a 2010 federal requirement.

The board could comply without the increase, but it would require taking $579,000 out of an already strained general fund budget to cover meal costs.

Bartleman said that would be too difficult at this point, making the price increase necessary to comply with the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Failing to do so could jeopardize free- and reduced-price meals, provided to 60 percent of the district's students.

"Those children need to eat," she said.

Board member Donna Korn said the price increase comes with an added benefit — expanding the menu with some healthy food selections.